Christianity Confidential
- play show:
Date: 25 March 2009
How to Unlearn the Bible
In his new book, Bart Ehrman takes us back to when the New Testament was still a work in progress, when its authors squabbled and nitpicked over basic doctrines. These conflicts have driven Ehrman to question Christianity's original teachings, asking, "Who wrote the Bible, and why?"
Bart Ehrman, author of Jesus, Interrupted
Think Globally, Fast Locally
Begins at 22 min 43 sec
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “I’ve given that up for Lent,” it’s probably been in reference to swearing off sweets, cigarettes or chocolate cake. But this year, Christians and other people of faith are swapping candy for carbon. Mike Leard introduces us to a Washington, DC-based effort to give up styrofoam, machine dryers and other polluting products during the forty days leading up to Easter.
Allison Fisher, Program Director of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light
Dr. Rev. Roy Howard, pastor of St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, Maryland
The Serpent Was a Ladies' Man, and Other Bible Stories
Begins at 41 min 15 sec
Jonathan Goldstein has read the Bible, and he has a few questions for God. Wouldn’t it be kind of boring to live inside of a whale? Was the serpent in the garden of Eden a kind of ancient ladies' man? And what did they do about all those animal smells on Noah’s ark? In his new book, the This American Life alum re-works the Bible to draw out its human moments, populating it with neurotics, loners and hypochondriacs.
Jonathan Goldstein, author of Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
StoryCorps: Hector Black on Forgiveness
Begins at 47 min 20 sec
For the next few weeks, we’ll be presenting stories of hope, gratitude, forgiveness and faith. They’re from StoryCorps, the oral history project that is traveling the country, recording conversations between ordinary people. This week, we bring you the first of our favorite selections: the story of Hector Black, who describes his struggle to forgive his daughter's murderer.
Courtesy of StoryCorps from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress
This Week's Interfaith Calendar
April 1 - April Fool's Day (Non-denominational)
One theory behind the origins of this prank-filled holiday involves Inter gravissimas, a papal decree issued by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It ushered in the use of the Gregorian calendar in the Roman Catholic Church, and pushed the year one month further than the older Julian calendar. Whoever forgetfully celebrated May Day a month too early was labeled an "April Fool."
April 3 - Ram Navami (Hindu)
This day traditionally marks the birth of Rama, one of the most popular gods in the Hindu pantheon. In art, Rama is often depicted with blue skin, carrying a bow and arrow, and accompanied by Hanuman, the monkey god.
